October 16, 2023 – Story and photos by Joshua Ross
When head coach Ken Carlin started the year with only five returning varsity players, he wasn’t quite sure what kind of team he would have. After 12 games, it’s pretty clear, he has a very, very good one.
There’s a list a mile long on what this team is doing well that’s contributing to their success – passing, communication, soccer IQ, and ball control to name a few. But two things that stand out, which were on full display in their 3-2 win over BC High on Saturday, are their speed and the leg of junior captain Jacob Riker in net.
The Harbormen’s second goal of the game came off a Riker goal kick that easily traveled 60 yards in the air. As the ball was coming down somewhere around the opposite 40 yard line, senior Chris Connelly blew by the two defenders, securing the pass seamlessly in stride, and chipped the ball over the Eagle’s goaltender into the back of the net.
This opportunity happened at least two other times in the game. As impressive as recording an assist was, the biggest play Riker in this match, and maybe the season, was diving to his left and saving a game tying shot with :30 seconds left in the game.
“Riker is my lord and savor,” senior captain Mason Lemieux jokingly said after the game. “I love playing with him. He’s defintely clutch at the best moments. He contributes more on offense that some offensive players. He defintely has a boot, knows where to place it and has good vision. It just helps us out a lot.”
The goaltending has been outstanding this year, only allowing five goals in 12 matches, but the offensive output is not too shabby either. It’s not uncommon for Hingham to score three or four goals a game, all by different players. This week alone, five different players scored nine goals in three games. It’s been a mix of veteran and new players contributing to the wins.
This week’s Athlete of the Week is junior Alessandro Neyra. He leads the league in total points with 16 (10G, 6A). Connelly is second with 14 points. While these two account for many of Hingham’s goals, a group of fresh faces, which includes juniors Brayden Lawler, Michael McNabb, and Adam Healey, have regularly put the ball in the back of the net.
“Everybody stepped up over the summer,” Connelly explains. “They took their preseason work seriously. We take conditioning really seriously and that’s how we are able to out last most teams.”
With an away-heavy first part of the schedule, the boys will be home for five of their last seven games to finish out the season. Already securing a playoff birth with a winning record, this will be Carlin’s 25th consecutive playoff appearance in his 25th and final season. The boys look to make it lucky number 13 this afternoon at Plymouth North.
GAME PHOTOS
